Mayor Parker Backs Down on Sermons but Continues to Push Bathroom Bill

Christian leaders were shocked last week when the city of Houston served five pastors subpoenas demanding the submission of sermon notes and conversations with congregation members relating to homosexuality or transgenderism.

In a recent reversal, however, the word “sermon” has been removed and replaced with the word “speech,” according to Christian Today.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker has demanded pastors turnover “speeches” related to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), also known as the “Bathroom Bill.”

The grassroots effort of the Raleigh-based Faith Driven Consumer has launched #HOUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM campaign to pressure city leaders to drop the subpoenas. More than 10,000 supporters have signed the #HOUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM petition.

“Thousands of concerned citizens are signing up in support of this important cause-harnessing the power of social media and keeping the pressure on Houston’s governmental leaders,” said Chris Stone, founder of Faith Driven Consumer.

This spring, Mayor Parker and two City Council members pushed the HERO ordinance that gave special rights to homosexuals and the transgender individuals. The ordinance allowed men to use women’s restrooms and vice versa, all in the name of “equal rights.”

“This disturbing news about our fellow pastors in Houston has far-reaching implications,” said Sam Rohrer, a longtime legislator and president of American Pastors Network. “I see three sectors of the American culture, which by their own actions, are demonstrating hatred toward God, Christianity, Jesus Christ, religious freedom, morality, decency, the Rule of Law and the Constitution. While their intentions and goals are different, the extreme tactics and messaging of Islam, Communism/Marxism/atheism and the well-organized, well-funded homosexual agenda have frightening similarities: all demand agreement with them, or else. This is where political correctness and forsaking God has brought this nation. It’s time that all those who would not subscribe to the ideologies of these three groups stand together, or we will hang separately."